Patent GB-702710-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for separating cards, cheques, or the like from a stack
IPC: G06K13/16
Filed: 1951-12-27
Abstract: 702,710. Sheet feeding and delivery apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Dec. 27, 1951 [Dec. 30, 1950], No. 30188/51. Addition to 685,739. Class 100 (1) Separating sheets.-Apparatus for separating cards, cheques or the like as described and claimed in the parent Specification is modified by the provision of a pair of rollers 211, 212 between the stack 76 of record cards or cheques and the mechanism for feeding the cards or cheques one by one into a position behind a window 102 where they may be read, which rollers by their position and direction of rotation prevent the concurrent passage of a second card. The mechanism for feeding the cards is set in motion by an electric push button which is operated to feed a card from the end of the stack and to eject the preceding Lard from the space behind the window 102. A rotating friction finger 86 adapted to engage the end card through an opening 87 in the end wall 70 of the stack compartment feeds the card down to engage its end between feed rollers 90, 92 which rotate to pass the card on into the space behind the window 102 where the information on the card can be read and recorded on an accounting machine with which the apparatus is associated. The rollers 211, 212 preventing double feed both rotate in a clockwise direction so that a second card accidentally fed down with the end card meets an upwardly moving roller surface and is supported thereby. The spindle 213 of the roller 212 is mounted on a pair of arms pivoted about the spindle 91 of rollers 90 and adjustable by a screw so that the distance apart of rollers 211, 212 can be adjusted. When the actuating switch is operated again a friction finger 225 rotates to engage the back of the card and move it still further downwardly between rejecting rollers 227 which rotate to pass the card onto a tray 260 whence it is passed to a receptacle as described below. Whilst the card is being rejected from the space behind the window 102 a succeeding card is fed from the stack into viewing position. Delivery apparatus.-The rejected card is fed over the surface of tray 260 by contact with a moving belt 263 and deposited in a receptacle 123. The bottom 264 of the receptacle 123 is lowered as the cards are fed thereto so that the distance each card falls may be kept small to prevent fluttering and turning over. This is achieved by racks 271 engaged by gear wheels 298, rotated slowly through a ratchet gear operated by oscillation of a lever co-operating with cams driven from the drive shaft 130 of the mechanism. Driving arrangements.-The main drive shaft 130 is rotated one revolution at a time by a single stroke clutch driven through gears 164. 166 by an electric motor 151. A wheel 167 driven by gear 166 carries a ratchet 140. A plate 168 attached to the shaft 130 carries a pawl 141 urged by spring 178 to a nosition of engagement with the ratchet 140. The pawl is normally held out of engagement with the ratchet by a finger 169 secured to a lever 170 biased to pawl releasing position by snring 172 but retained by a latch 173 controlled by a solenoid 177. A switch 199 controlling the motor is closed when the lever 170, released from the latch 173, turns clockwise to free the pawl for engagement with the ratchet. An arm 179 on the lever 170 is engaged by a pin 180 on plate 168 near the end of each full revolution thereof. the pin returning the lever 170 to the initial latched position and opening switch 199. In operation, the switch is closed which, when the accounting machine is started, completes a circuit to energize the solenoid 177 so that the latch 173 releases the lever 170 which closes switch 199 and allows the pawl 141 to engage the ratchet 140. The motor is energized through switch 199 and rotates plate 168 and shaft 130 until pin 180 returns lever 170 to initial position, i.e. for one complete revolution. A pawl 181 engages a notch in plate 168 to prevent backward movement of the plate and to stop it in the correct position. Feed arms 86 and rollers 90, 92 and 211, 212 are rotated through trains of gears from the shaft 130 so as to make the necessary number of revolutions and then stop. The feed arm 225 and rollers 227 are driven from shaft 130 through a Geneva gear which provides a period of no rotation at the end of the rejecting movement so that these parts are stationary by the time the next card descends into the space behind the window 102. A rejecting switch is provided which actuates the solenoid 177 to set the feeding mechanism in action without operation of the accounting machine. This is used for example when it is not required to record the information on the card.